Bishop Oni said: “I don’t expect any 75 to 80 years old still in government; what are they doing there? When will they give their children a place? The age of youthfulness is between 25, 30 and 40; who will want to employ a 75-year-old man in a bank?"
Stephen Oni, Bishop of the Diocese of Ondo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has expressed his dissatisfaction with politicians in their seventies still seeking to contest elections.
He also said aged politicians, who are looking to "die in office", contribute to the impunity in the country.
He stated this at the order of service for the investiture and installation of new chancellor and other officials of the Cathedral Church of St Stephen, Ondo.
He also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his decision to contest the 2019 presidential election .
He said: “They want to die in office. No wonder, people have thrown caution into the air; we could see impunity everywhere. Worthy legacy is not there; we are only recycling rusty brains. They will come back again with their pictures, when they give you N1,000 with the popular chant to ‘vote and cook soup’.
“I don’t expect any 75 to 80 years old still in government; what are they doing there? When will they give their children a place? The age of youthfulness is between 25, 30 and 40; who will want to employ a 75-year-old man in a bank?
“Are we now saying a 75-year-old should go to the National Assembly? What are they doing there? We need young people who have aspirations and are highly adventurous. So, let them allow them in.”
Also present at the service were a Federal High Court judge, Justice Obayomi Taiwo, who was invested as the Chancellor; Mr Ayodele Akintunde (SAN), as the Deputy Chancellor; while Mrs Yejide Ogundipe and Mr Olu Adenodi were reappointed as registrar and deputy registrar, respectively.